The Wimbledon Tennis Experience in London

The city of London is one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the world – a the Wimbledon tennis experience is just one of the jewel’s in the city’s crown.

It is without a doubt the global capital of politics, finance, culture, fashion and trade. It sets trends that quickly spread throughout the western world, and London engenders feelings of tradition and history, like no other.

Dating back to 43AD when it was known as Londonium, the city embraces the Thames Valley and has grown to such an extent that it has swallowed many small towns and villages in its wake. Home to close on eight million people, the area is now known as Greater London.

It is a city of overwhelming diversity, from the aged and formal buildings of Westminster, home of the British government and the Windsors, to funky Covent Garden, with its myriad of alternative shops and the famed opera house to the trendy West End – the theatre district where the fabulous “Cats”, “Phantom of the Opera” and other masterpieces were introduced to the world.

Getting There

What makes London so incredibly first world and accessible is its’ outstanding public transport network, said to be the most comprehensive worldwide.

By Air

London is well serviced by six airports which are linked to the city by more than adequate public transport options. They are Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City and London Southend. Additionally, there are several regional airports which offer budget flights, also easily accessible to Greater London.

We take a brief look at two of the biggest and busiest airports:London Heathrow isEurope’s largest and the world’s busiest airport currently has four terminals, a fifth is planned for completion in 2008. Be aware that air congestion can cause delays of up to an hour. Transport options include:

The Heathrow Express, which goes to Paddington Station every 15 minutes. Journey time is 15 minutes and the cost is £15.50.

The Piccadilly Line on the London Underground to Central London. Journey time is 50 minutes and a single fare will be £3.50 with an ‘Oyster Card’ or £4 with a paper ticket

Taxi to Central London will take about an hour, depending on traffic, and will set you back between £45-60.

The Heathrow Connect Rail Service is the same as the Heathrow Express, only slower as it stops at intermediate stations

London Gatwick is London’s second largest airport. Transport services include:

Gatwick Express is a rail link to London Victoria Station and runs every 15 minutes, with a journey time of about half an hour. The cost ranges from £14 – 20 depending on the ticket class.

Southern Rail goes to Victoria via Clapham Junction every 15 minutes. Set aside 40 minutes travel time and the cost is in the region of £9 for a single ticket. Group discounts are available.

First Capital Connect or Thameslink goes to London Bridge, City Thameslink, Farringdon and Kings Cross.

By Train

There is a single international rail link operating out of Waterloo International. High speed trains, operated by Eurostar, travel through the undersea Channel Tunnel from Paris and Brussels. The Onward journey from Waterloo is well serviced by tubes, buses and taxis.

Within England there are 12 main line terminal stations, which are all, apart from Fenchurch Street, served by their own stations on the London Underground. London Waterloo will serve Wimbledon, which can also be reached by the western reaches of the District Line on the Underground.

Thameslink is a cross-London rail service which operates from Bedford to Brighton and stops are Kings Cross, Thameslink, Farringdon, City Thameslink and London Black friars. Call 084 5748 4950 for all train times.

By Bus

Virtually all international and domestic departures and arrivals are from a complex of stations off Buckingham Palace Road. National Express Eurolines operate from Victoria Coach Station.
Main coach operators are:

National Express – England, Wales and Scotland

Eurolines – Northern and Republic of Ireland and continental Europe

Megabus – Major regional cities

Getting Around

London boasts an excellent public transport system, so getting around should not pose any problems at all. There is a twenty-four travel information line which will assist you with your requirements: +4420 7222 1234. Modes of transport include:

The London Underground – 12 colour-coded lines

London Overground – suburban rail service which crosses northern London

National Rail – Out of London from Victoria and Kings Cross

Docklands Light Railway – operates in the east of the City

Tramlink – operates in the southern suburbs like Wimbledon and Croydon

River Boats – a pleasant way to explore the city. Discounts are available on some lines.

London Entertainment

There’s more entertainment to London than the Wimbledon tennis experience. The city is massive. If you are a gambler the first thought that comes to mind is where to find a casino in London. That link will take you to a complete directory of London’s casinos. You’ll also find hotel booking on that page and the rates are very good. Comes in handy for the current weather, news, and poker information also listed.

Useful Tennis Sites

About Wimbledon Open Tennis Betting Guide

This is the Wimbledon Open Tennis Betting Guide, a weblog by the staff at Gambling Guru about tennis betting and the Wimbledon Open Tennis taking place at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in London England. Our news updates, betting guide, and tips are designed to help you turn your passion for tennis into profit.